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From the Floor

Previously the Technical Member Bulletin, From the Floor is our bi-monthly newsletter for Coaches, Judges and other Technical Members.

From the Floor - May 2018

Click here to read the May 2018 edition of From The Floor, our bi-monthly newsletter for Technical Members.

From the Floor - March 2018

Click here to read the March 2018 edition of From The Floor, our bi-monthly newsletter for Technical Members.

From the Floor - January 2018

Click here to read the January 2018 edition of From The Floor, our bi-monthly newsletter for Technical Members.

From the Floor - November 2017

Click here to readthe March 2018 edition of From The Floor, our bi-monthly newsletter for Technical Members.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Advanced GfA Coach Accreditation now available for enrolment

On Tuesday, May 9 Gymnastics Australia released the Advanced Gymnastics for All (GfA) Coach Accreditation for enrolment in the GA Learning Management System (LMS).

The Accreditation Pathway was designed in consultation with the National GfA Commission, and is a departure from other Advanced Coach Accreditation Pathways.

While Advanced Coaches of other Gymsports require a skill set that enables them to prepare athletes for higher-level competition, Advanced GfA Coaches require a broader knowledge including components of biomechanics, tumbling, risk management, planning and, importantly, knowledge of other Gymsports.

The Advanced GfA Coach Accreditation is multidisciplinary by design, contains the new Online Participation Module, and has multiple entry points to increase accessibility for a wide range of coaches.

The Accreditation Pathway involves:

An online course - coaches can choose between the Online Participation Module or the Online Advanced Coaching Principles Course

Spotting Log Book Assessment Task

The Advanced Tumbling and Spring Face to Face Module

Gaining a second Intermediate Accreditation (GfA plus one other)

An Advanced GfA Planning Assessment Task

A current First Aid Certificate.

Coaches have a choice between the Online Participation Module, which is designed specifically for the recreational coach teaching Advanced-level skills, or the Online Advanced Coaching Principles Course, which is predominantly for coaches working in the competitive space.

If a coach intends on attaining an Advanced Accreditation in any other Gymsport, it is recommended that they complete the Online Advanced Coaching Principles Course. If, however, a coach wants only to work in the recreational space and doesn’t intend to gain another Advanced Accreditation, then the Online Participation Module is the way to go.

Interested in gaining an Advanced GfA Accreditation?

Intermediate GfA Coaches can get started right away. Follow our step-by-step guide to get up and running on the Advanced GfA Coach Accreditation Pathway.

Intermediate Coaches of other Gymsports (currently without an Intermediate GfA Coach Accreditation) can get started by working towards their Intermediate GfA Accreditation – click here for a step-by-step guide on enrolling in a second Intermediate Accreditation in the LMS.

National Coaching Pathway

Participation Coach or Performance Coach? The choice is yours, there’s a pathway for everyone!

The National Coaching Pathway provides the Coach with a clear pathway to achieve the accreditation they need through targeted learning. Are you taking athletes to competition? Join the Performance Pathway and gain the knowledge you need to prepare them. Working in the Recreational space? Take the Participation Pathway and grow your coaching skills as your athletes progress.

Participation vs. Performance – what’s the difference?

The Participation Pathway is perfect for an Intermediate Coach teaching recreational gymnastics who wants to start teaching somersaults and other tumbling skills. It’s also the pathway for a Gymnastics for All Coach to gain an Advanced Accreditation. The Participation Pathway gives you the tools you need to safely and competently teach Advanced level skills in a recreational setting.

What’s involved?

Online Participation Module* – 3 to 4 hours

Spotting Log Book – 5 to 10 hours

Advanced Tumbling and Spring Face to Face Module – 4.5 hours

From here it’s really easy to gain an Advanced GfA Accreditation! In addition to the above, you need to complete:

A second Intermediate Accreditation in a different Gymsport (GfA plus one other)

Is this the pathway for me?

A coach on the Participation Pathway is predominantly a recreational coach. They might use mini trampoline as a teaching aid, they could teach forward and backward somersaults, handsprings and layouts, they could even work with vault. They are able to coach at selected competitions too – get in touch with your local State Association to find out what levels you could coach at competition.

A Participation Coach can continue on the pathway to achieve an Advanced GfA Accreditation allowing them to teach a greater breadth of skills, or they could move into the Performance Pathway if they want to extend their coaching skills.

Take your athletes to the next level! The Advanced Accreditation is for the developing Performance Coach, and will teach you all the skills you need to develop physical abilities, plan and prepare for competition season, understand biomechanical principles as they relate to gymnastics and so much more, The Advanced Course prepares you for a coaching career in gymnastics and teaches you lifelong skills.

What’s involved?

Online Advanced Coaching Principles Course – 10 to 15 hours

Junior Coach Project

Spotting Log Book

Physical Preparation Project

Self-analysis Project

Annual and Seasonal Plan

Online Advanced Gymsport Coaching Course - 4 to 10 hours

Skills Analysis Project

First Aid Course

Advanced Face to Face Course Modules 1#, 2, 3 and 4 – 2 days

#The coursework can be completed in the above order, or Module 1 – the Advanced Tumbling and Spring Face to Face Module – can be completed earlier if desired (doesn’t apply to RG and AER). The prerequisites to attend Module 1 earlier are the Online Advanced Coaching Principles Course and the Spotting Log Book.

Is this the pathway for me?

As a Performance Coach with an Advanced or higher accreditation, you’ll be working in the competitive space, preparing your athletes for competition, teaching high-level skills with greater complexity across all Gymsport apparatus.

You’ll have a strong foundation of learning that will enable you to develop physical preparation programs, design planning that caters to athlete needs, and understand Advanced skills with a high level of technical and biomechanical knowledge.

An Advanced Performance Coach is perfectly positioned to develop physical abilities in their gymnasts, prepare them for competition season and take them to the next level.